The Year of Living Shamelessly is set in Crystal Bend, a fictional small town set in the Cascades Mountains. Creating characters is a labor of love but I discovered that creating a town is quite the challenge. Making the town smaller doesn’t make it easier. There is a close-knit community complete with nosy neighbors, a web of secrets and unique traditions. And that’s just the start.
For instance, Ex, Why and Me is set in Carbon Hill, a fictional town set in the Midwest. There is so much history in the town that the festival organizers put together a scavenger hunt based on the railroads and unsolved train robberies. Michelle, the heroine, is very reluctantly partnered up with Ryan, her ex-lover. Now she has to work together with the one man she never wanted to speak to again.
Creating a scavenger hunt in a small town isn’t easy. I read up on team building activities that are used in corporate training sessions. Some of the stuff they expect people to do is crazy–like putting together puzzles in the dark. I used that one in Ex, Why and Me because I’m all for torturing my characters.
And, fortunately, I had my twin sister as a resource. Jennifer loves reality TV. Whenever I got stuck planning the scavenger hunt, I would call Jennifer and we would brainstorm. Once I had the tasks decided on, I imagined Michelle and Ryan running against the clock in a small town filled with railroads and cobblestone streets. Before I knew it, Carbon Hill became a character of its own.
I have to admit that it was hard finding a reason why Michelle would a) participate in the scavenger hunt and b) participate with Ryan. I’ve seen a few reality TV shows like Wipeout and there is no way I would ever sign up for it. I’m sure those thrill-seekers think it’s a crazy adventure but it looks like a lot of stress and agony to me!
Which makes me wonder: If you had to go on a reality show, which one would you choose? Tell me in the comment section before Sunday, October 4 at midnight Pacific Time. I will choose one person to win a signed copy of Ex, Why and Me. Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Good luck!
**Update: Congratulations to Jane, commenter #6. She wins a signed copy of Ex, Why and Me. Thanks to everyone for blogging with me! I really need to catch up on my reality shows.**
I would choose The Amazing Race. Travel around the world in free way, will be very great to me coz i love to travel to other country
I would choose The Amazing Race. To travel to all those places would be fabulous.
I too would love to try The Amazing Race… my Mother always says that would be the one she would do…
I have been telling Susanna for YEARS that Amazing Race is the single best reality show out there. Not only do they get to travel the world, but they get to do things that are totally cool (rappel down castle walls, bungee jump) but they really do things that are part of the country and see more than the highlights.
The food challenges I could do without.
Don’t enter me for this book since I already own a lovely copy of my own, but still wanted to do the question. I don’t watch any reality show other than the news, but if I must. . . I would go on any of them that do not involve stranded on an island, or eatting any kind of bugs or doing anything with any insects or other incredibly sick looking creatures.
Hmm. . . so I guess that means it’s dancing with Tom Delay for me. Sigh; guess it could be worse. . .
Lois
I think it would be fun to be on “Survivor.”
I would pick Dancing With the Stars. Since I am not a star I would not qualify but a lot of the contestants seem to really get in good shape.
dancin ones. love to dance
lol on tru channel,
world dumbest criminals is most likely i would be on, but would like to BE ON
not really sure, dont really like em much
sorry to all that does. it just so many of em, like even now, parkin wars? and why i ran from cops? ack, what more can they do